Nearly 40 Years of Sharing Reproductive Health Information

2008-Present: Knowledge for Health

The K4Health Project is the latest in a series of reproductive health knowledge-sharing projects which began nearly 40 years ago. The Center for Communication Programs (CCP) at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health manages the project in partnership with the Global Health Bureau at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In 2008, in partnership with USAID, CCP transformed INFO–an information synthesis and dissemination project–into K4Health, a knowledge exchange and use project. To meet its goal of improving the provision of FP/RH and other health services in developing countries, K4Health goes beyond disseminating knowledge to healthcare decision-makers, program managers, and service providers. By harnessing the latest digital and mobile technologies, K4Health starts with its audiences’ needs, provides an effective means for public health professionals to share their own experiences, safeguards the accuracy and effectiveness of lessons learned, provides tools for adaptation and localization, and measures impact.

2002-2008: Information and Knowledge for Optimal Health (INFO)

In 2002, CCP seized the opportunity offered by USAID to transition PIP into the INFO project, using the power of Internet communication to share information quickly and widely.  INFO’s products and services enabled more people to benefit from up-to-date knowledge about reproductive health. By bringing together knowledge management and reproductive health experts from USAID and its cooperating agencies, INFO set in motion an innovative approach to knowledge management for developing-country reproductive health programs.

Major Products and Services:

• Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers, improved and expanded on its respected precursor, The Essentials of Contraceptive Technology. Prepared through a unique collaboration among the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and technical experts from more than 30 organizations around the world.
• Decision-Making Tool for Family Planning Clients and Providers promoted high-quality family planning counseling, supporting the client and provider as the provider helps the client decide on a contraceptive method and learn how to use it.
• A number of online and print publications including, Population Reports (authoritative journal on family planning and related health issues), INFO Reports (brief looks at special topics),  the two-page Global Health Technical Briefs series, and the Guide to Monitoring and Evaluating Health Information Products and Services.
• One Source Database combining documents from POPLINE, photos from Photoshare, news and research from the Pop Reporter (a weekly e-zine), communication materials from the Media/Materials Clearinghouse, links to websites from Netlinks, and Q&As from Population Reports and Dr. Jim Shelton’s “Pearls.”
• Management of the IBP Knowledge Gateway, bringing together individuals and groups around the world to exchange knowledge on a variety of health issues. The Knowledge Gateway supports hundreds of virtual communities of practice (CoPs) and numerous eForums on a variety of global health topics.
• Online Contraceptive Toolkits for IUDs, Injectables, and Implants, housing practical resources to help family planning program managers and providers improve their contraceptive services.

1973-2002: Population Information Program (PIP)

PIP offered health care professionals in developing countries new access to the emerging scientific literature on reproductive health. In collaboration with world renowned experts, PIP reached a large audience with evidence-based knowledge and ideas crucial to improving and expanding delivery of family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) programs.

Major Products and Services:

• Population Reports series, the world’s most widely distributed journal on family planning and related health topics, available in English, French, Spanish, and other languages for selected issues.
• POPLINE, an online database containing nearly 370,000 records with abstracts to scientific articles, reports, books, and unpublished materials in the field of population, family planning, and related health issues. POPLINE is still going strong
• Media/Materials Clearinghouse, a physical and online collection of health communication materials from developing countries, such as posters, pamphlets, and videos.
• Photoshare, a one-of-a-kind photo collection covering a broad range of subjects in international development, with a focus on public health. The online image database contains more than 17,000 cataloged images related to global health—free for nonprofit and educational use.
• The Essentials of Contraceptive Technology handbook, precursor to the current Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers, and its accompanying wall chart, “Do you know your family planning choices?” Essentials was the most widely available reference on providing contraceptive methods, used by service delivery projects, professors and students at medical schools, trainers, and communicators.